Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the latest leaks and updates.
Moto X handsets are always worth looking forward to, thanks to the top-notch specs, exciting features, and competitive price tags they carry. This is the reason why the Moto X 2016 is one of the most-awaited devices of this year. Of course, not much is known about the device yet, but one or two previous leaks and rumors have given us some very important details to ponder upon.
We have brought together all the information we could from the recent leaks and rumors in one place. Let’s go through them and see what we know so far about the Moto X 2016 and whether we can decipher any important detail that may be hiding behind the rumors.
Moto X 2016 Specs and Features
A recent benchmark leak suggested that a new phone called Moto XT1650 is in the making, and it is just possible that this might be the 2016 Moto X flagship. Rumors around the web also say that this phone has been codenamed “Moto X Sheridan” or “Sheridan XT1650”.
According to the benchmark leak, the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor clocked at 1.59GHz. The phone is carrying 4GB RAM and was running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow during the benchmark test. These specs are flagship-level, thus suggesting that this might indeed be the Moto X (2016).
Other rumors say that we might get a second variant of the phone with a higher 2.15GHz clock rate and more storage. The internal storage is expected to be 32GB or 64GB expandable. Though the phone was running Android Marshmallow in the benchmark test, it is highly possible that it might release with Android N out of the box if it is launched during the last quarter of this year. If it launches earlier, then an Android N update is guaranteed anyway.
Moto X 2016 Release Date and Price
The Moto X phones in 2015 were launched in Q3. And even though we don’t expect Lenovo to follow the same timeframe, it is highly unlikely that the company will make any delays for the launch. So yes, we expect the Moto X 2016 launch to be held in Q3 2016 itself.
As for the price, we expect the phone to cost somewhere between $450-$480, though that’s just a guess for now.
Moto X 2016: Other Rumors
Lenovo had previously announced that all the further Moto releases will come with the “Moto by Lenovo” branding. So things shouldn’t be different for the Moto X 2016, and we expect the phone to carry the new branding at the back.
Also, we expect the new Moto X 2016 to be waterproof and dustproof with an IP68 certification. It might come with a USB Type-C port and NFC to support Android Pay. We also expect a larger battery and a fingerprint sensor along with a QuadHD screen. Dual front-firing speakers are obviously expected.
We will keep updating you with the latest information as and when we get it. So stay tuned.
Update (05/08/2016): A new image of the Moto X 2016 has leaked out today in which the rear part of the phone is visible. The device does not seem to be featuring a full-metal body, as the top and the bottom parts look like they are made of plastic so that there’s no signal interference and the antennas can work properly.
The camera module is larger now and might carry a larger lens to make low-light photography better. The module is surrounded by a metal ring, and the Moto logo sits in the middle. The speaker grills are at the bottom, and the secondary mic seems to be on the bottom plastic cap. Rumors say that the phone might be unveiled in June.
is larger now and might carry a larger lens to make low-light photography better. The module is surrounded by a metal ring, and the Moto logo sits in the middle. The speaker grills are at the bottom, and the secondary mic seems to be on the bottom plastic cap. Rumors say that the phone might be unveiled in June.
Update (22nd June 2016): Moto X 2016 is probably not dead after all. The device has been spotted on GFXBench with the codename Motorola XT1662 and major specs have been revealed. Running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the phone has got a 4.6 inches Full HD screen, so it probably might be the base variant.
The alleged Moto X 2016 aka Motorola XT1662 is powered by a 2.1GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755) processor with Mali-T860 GPU. There’s 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. The phone features a 16MP rear camera with 4K video recording support, and an 8MP front camera.
Also, Northwestern University has announced that Jim Wicks, designer of Moto 360 smartwatch (2014) and Moto X (2013) is going to join the faculty full-time. Jim has served Motorola for 15 years and has seen the company go into Lenovo’s hands. Now that Jim is gone, the future of Moto is uncertain. But of course, the brand will be alive in our hears irrespective of whether Lenovo decides to kill the brand completely or not. As for the Moto X 2016, we don’t know whether Jim has his hands over this phone’s design too, but some news should come out soon regarding the device.